Demands for India Flights From GCC to remain High : Visa Global Survey

Demands for India bound flights from the Gulf Cooperation Council and Middle East region remains very high and as per the new Visa Global Travel Intentions Survey, 2011, released  by Arabian Business weekly magazine, India was voted one of the top global destinations for travelers from the UAE  in 2011.India is home to a large population of expatriate Indians  in the Gulf region who travel on yearly basis to their origin country. The trends is seen in the operation of Indian's national carrier Air India,  which operates around 53 weekly flights to Dubai and its low-fare unit, Air India Express, operates 54 weekly flights to the city but still fly with overbooked capacity. Other airlines in the region have already expanded into flight offering to many Indian cities and have huge expansion plans for the next year to tap the under supplied market.

For example, Qatar Airways has said that India remains its key growth market in 2012,  and it operates 95 flights a week to 12 other Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Goa besides Kolkata, the services for which were launched only recently. Indigo airlines, India’s largest airlines group and a low-cost carrier has also announced Dubai to New Delhi and Dubai to Mumbai flights service recently. Other airlines such as Jet Airways, Air Arabia, Emirates, Fly Dubai and Jazeera Airways are also envisage to launch more Indian services. The Gulf region have always be a high demanding sector for India flights and due to gross undersupply of airlines seats, the air fares decrease is unlikely in near future with the airlines focusing to launch services on newer routes. The demand from the Indian market is proving to be a silver lining for many International airlines as worldwide trends indicates a decrease in flights demands as well as slashing of airlines prices.

The world's Top 5 Airlines

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways

The Flag carrier of Qatar, land of Pearls, Qatar Airways operates to more than 100 International destinations from its hub in Doha international airport. With its Fleet of more than 96 aircraft, the airline also holds the record of operating the youngest fleets in the world with an average age of only  4.1 years. The airlines operate to all of the continents and are in a vast expansionary strategy making it one of the largest airlines in the world. The airlines is one of only seven airlines awarded 5-star rating by the independent consultancy and rating firm Skytrax along with Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Hainan Airlines and Singapore Airlines. Besides the airlines of the year award by the Global Traveler Magazine, the airlines were also named Airline of the Year 2011 at the Skytrax World Airline Awards.

Head Quarters: Qatar Airways Towers Doha, Qatar         

Singapore Airlines

One of the worlds leading carrier in terms of fleet, passenger safety and entertainment, the Singapore airlines fly to five continents. The airlines holds the distinction of operating the first fleet of  the bigger Airbus carriers, A380, and flies to 62 destinations across 35 countries from its hub in Singapore.

The airlines are the strongest airlines in the South East Asia region and have a huge Middle East presence and faces competitors like Emirates and Etihad. Together with Silk air it has largest detonations to offer than any other Asian airlines. With the alliance with Virgin, the Airlines will surely have more to offer.

Headquarters: Airline House, 25 Airline Road, Singapore 819829, Singapore

Asiana Airlines

One of South Koreas Primary airlines, Asiana Airlines the airlines have its primary hub at Gimpo International Airport besides its international hub at Incheon International Airport. Asiana is  also a member of the famous Star Alliance. The airlines has 516 daily flights throughout Asia, Europe, North

America, and Oceania and at present operates on 14 domestic and 85 international passenger routes. Besides it also operates on 20 Cargo routes. Besides being named in the top 5 airlines of the world by Global travelers magazine, in 2010, Asiana was also named best airline with respect to in-flight service in  which was the sixth honor for Asiana in recent times. By the same magazine Asiana airlines was named best airline in Northern Asia in 2010.The airlines has its international hub at Incheon airport.

               

Head Quarters: Asiana Town in Osoe-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul.

Major area of operation: South East Asia

Cathay Pacific Airways

The largest carrier of Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airways has the distinction of repeatedly being adjudged among the top airlines in the world in terms of Passenger safety, entertainment and customer services. Cathay pacific has its headquarters and primary hub at Hong Kong International Airport. The airlines serve more than 110 International destinations and have a huge cargo services presence as well. The airlines have various codeshare agreements as well as international airlines which makes it one of the best airlines to fly with. The airlines operate with a fleet of 132 aircraft both large and small. The airlines is also the founder member of One world alliance. Besides being adjudged the top five airlines of the world , in previous years as well the airlines was awarded the Airline of the Year 2009 by Skytrax.

Head Quarters: Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok 

Thai Airways International

The national Flag carrier and largest airlines of Thailand, Thai Airways has its Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and offers flight services to more than 72 International  destinations spread across 35 countries through its fleet of 85 aircraft. The host in the airlines is also a specialty due to the adherence to their Traditional dress for international flights. Thai Airways International also holds the distinction of being the first Asia-Pacific airline to serve London Heathrow Airport. The airline is also among the Asian airlines having maximum number of flights to Europe.

Head Quarters: Chatuchak District, Bangkok, Thailand

Qatar airways Offers Direct Flight to Thailand, Phuket

Catching a direct flight to Thailand from Qatar is now possible with Qatar airways launching a direct flight to Phuket. With this initiative Qatar airways became the first middle east airlines to have direct flights to Thailand.
 
The flight initially scheduled six times a week  on a 272-seat Airbus 330, connects both Bankok and Phuket with Doha. Thailand has been seeing increased visitors from Middleeast and hence the initiative is seen as a big boost to Qatar airways. Over the year 2009, Middle Eastern visitors traveling to Thailand totaled 450,000 with an average length of stay of over a week.Phuket, Thailands largest  tourist site and island, is acronym ed the Pearl of the Andaman,famous the world over for its beaches, diving, water-sports and resorts.
Another beneficiary of the new airline route launch is Malaysia as the stopover destination from Doha to Phuket also includes Kuala Lumpur as a destination. The airlines offers flights services to Shram al sheikh and Sanghai as well.

Many other airlines carriers from the Middle East countries are also preparing for  a similar Cheap Flights tickets  offering for the south East Asian countries which will be a welcome step for visitors to the east asian countries. Theses airlines include Etihad airlways and Emirates airlines.